I’m going after them,” Johnson said Friday. “I know my team has my back and this would be a good win for the organization and a good win for us. Just to let us know we can still compete against the best.”
In that respect this second game against the Bulls is a little different for Johnson.
“First time it was definitely for me,” Johnson said. “This time it’s for all of us. This organization really needs to show it can compete against the top of the top. These guys are not just one of the top teams this year, they will be for a long time.”
Kind words for an organization that gave up on Johnson before it really gave him a chance, but as Jay Triano reminded Johnson yesterday, he won’t be the only one looking for payback on Saturday.
“He was very fired up for that (first Bulls) game and I’m sure they will be very fired up to get him back there. I told him today, ‘They’re going to come after you. You better be ready.’ He said ‘I’m ready, coach.’ It should be fun.”

“He really wants to be a good basketball player, he’s a great kid,” Triano said of Rose. “He wants to be coached, he wants to be told what he’s doing wrong, he wants to be told what he needs to do to get better and when you have a guy with his talent who’s willing to accept that kind of coaching, then the sky’s the limit.”
There would seem to be no limit to what Rose may be able to accomplish this year. He’s been endorsed by the likes of LeBron James as the MVP of the league, the Bulls could very well go on a long and successful post-season run and his game keeps improving. Rose is a better jump shooter now than he was when he broke into the league, he’s the backcourt anchor of one of the best team defences in the NBA and his leadership skills are extraordinary because he remains one of the most humble and grounded stars in the league.
“I think that’s what makes him so good,” said Triano. “His drive is never satisfied. He keeps wanting to do the next thing. Winning an MVP award, if he was ever to do that, I think would just be fuel for him to say, ‘I need to do it again. I want to be one of the best of all time.’”
So, does Triano pick him as the MVP, too?
“I’m not going to go on record saying who I’m going to vote for MVP. We play too many games still against other people who would try to prove me wrong,” the coach joked.
“But you can speculate all you want.”

What a huge, red-letter day for some of us on Friday.
Last practice of the season most likely!
With games today and tomorrow they probably won’t work out Monday, with games Tuesday and Wednesday they may not work Thursday and a week from today they might practice but I doubt I can make in back from Philadelphia in time.
Then it’s another back-to-back on the following Sunday-Monday which should mean the Tuesday off and the season ends on the Wednesday.
Feel good for me?
Thanks.

Toronto (20-54) has lost 12 of 16 since beating Chicago and is limping toward the finish of its disappointing season. The Raptors lost point guard Jose Calderon to a strained hamstring Wednesday during their fifth straight loss, 104-98 to visiting Milwaukee.
Calderon won't travel to Chicago and is doubtful for Sunday's game against Orlando, giving backup Jerryd Bayless an opportunity to earn more playing time as the starter.
Bayless is averaging 14.4 points and 7.4 assists in seven starts for the Raptors this season compared to 6.6 and 3.0 in 56 games coming off the bench, which includes 11 games with New Orleans. Bayless came over in a trade Nov. 20.
"You know you're going to play and you're going to play a lot freer," Bayless said after practice Friday. "It's just different. I've been happy here whether it's starting or coming off the bench but I think anybody's going to play a little bit better when they're starting."
Andrea Bargnani returned to the lineup and scored 22 points after missing last Saturday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with a right ankle injury. Bargnani, averaging a career-high 21.8 points this season, scored 24 in the most recent win against the Bulls.
DeMar DeRozan, who scored 20 points Wednesday against the Bucks, also added 24 in the victory over Chicago.
The Bulls can tie San Antonio atop the league with their 33rd home victory, but Toronto has had some recent success at the United Center. The Raptors have won five of the last seven meetings in Chicago.

Sunshine Girl - 02.04.11

Quote:

SUNshine Girl Susan, 26, is a nutritionist who wants to work for the government. That's great, Susan! Tell them to trim the fat! Susan is a 5-foot-5 married Leo who enjoys travelling. If you like to travel, just make your way down to the On The Park banquet hall to see Susan compete in the Miss Brazil Canada Pageant, being held on April 9.